Job Information
Job Category
Environmental, Land Use
Company Name
City of Long Beach
Position Level
Supervisory
Job Description
THE DEPARTMENT The Department of Community Development delivers a wide variety of programs and services to help create and maintain more safe, sustainable, and livable neighborhoods. The department is comprised of five bureaus: Building and Safety, Code Enforcement, Housing and Neighborhood Services, Planning, and Administrative and Financial Services. Our staff of more than 200 works tirelessly to serve the community through an array of policies and programs, including land use and development, affordable housing, environment and historic preservation, neighborhood improvement, and construction standards and safety. We are dedicated to making a positive difference in our role to help transform Long Beach into a model urban community that honors its past and embraces the future. THE POSITIONUnder general direction of the Planning Bureau Manager, the Environmental and Cultural Resources Officer (ERCO) will develop and oversee the newly established Environmental and Cultural Resources Division and will be responsible for the operation of the division by providing day-to-day direction to and supervision of the professional and support staff within the division. This new division is being established to guide and facilitate environmental review and compliance for discretionary projects reviewed by the City of Long Beach Planning Bureau and other Citywide Departments. This includes preparing documents and ensuring compliance with and adherence to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Long Beach Climate Action Plan (LBCAP). The ERCO is also responsible for administering the City’s Historic Preservation Program that facilitates appropriate review and designation of cultural and historic properties through an intentional and appropriate approach to recognition, development and redevelopment of those resources.
The successful candidate will be a highly organized professional who is familiar with California planning and development practices, CEQA, NEPA, cultural and historic preservation, and environmental justice. This individual will be committed to transparency and implementing best practices for public participation. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:This position will:
- Oversee the Environmental and Cultural Resources Division comprised of professional planning and support staff who oversee planning projects focused on environmental review and historic preservation.
- Guide decisions about the appropriate environmental review pathway and oversees the development, dissemination and filing of CEQA/NEPA documents.
- Oversee the preparation of environmental documents and technical reports both by staff and by third party consultants.
- Collaborate with internal teams across various divisions and City departments to integrate environmental considerations and regulatory procedures into overall planning processes.
- Coordinate with regulatory agencies on environmental documentation.
- Stay abreast of evolving state and federal environmental regulations, including coastal sea level rise policies, and contribute to developing sustainable practices within the Division.
- Supervise and ensure compliance with complex local, state, and federal environmental regulations related to impact analysis, land use planning, and documentation preparation.
- Develop mitigation measures to avoid or minimize impacts on the environment.
- Interact with consultants, including review and approval of scopes of work and work products and approval.
- Manage and guide the City’s Historic Preservation Program, including maintaining the City’s Certified Local Government (CLG) status
- Supervise and guide staff who process Certificates of Appropriateness for historic resources.
- Use creativity to resolve challenges in balancing historic preservation with other city goals and fiscal challenges
- Oversee the development, update, and implementation of historic preservation policy documents including Historic Context Statements and the Historic Preservation Element.
- Facilitate communications, public participation and access to environmental reviews and historic preservation cases.
- Staff the City’s monthly Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC).
- Attract, maintain and inspire professional and support staff who work in the Division
- Develop and implement processes and procedures, training materials and training modules for planning staff.
- Participate in hiring, onboarding, training and coaching professional planning and support staff for the Planning Bureau.
- Collaborate with the other Planning Officers on implementation of records management practices and procedures.
- Provide professional recommendations and information support to the City Council, Planning Commission, Cultural Heritage Commission, Zoning Administrator, and City Management.
- Interpret provisions of the City's zoning ordinance and associated state and federal regulations for staff, City Council, Planning Commission, Cultural Heritage Commission, Zoning Administrator, developers and the public.
- Occasionally attend and staff Planning Commission meetings, attend City Council meetings and community meetings, as necessary.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Required Skills / Experience / Education
EDUCATION: - A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Planning, Public Administration, Environmental Studies, Architectural History, or a closely related field is required OR - Professional experience beyond the minimum qualifications may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis. EXPERIENCE: - Three (3) years of increasingly responsible full-time experience with overseeing planning and/or environmental review projects. Candidates may be stronger in either environmental review or cultural preservation, but should have basic knowledge of both. - One (1) year of the required experience must have been gained in a supervisory capacity.US Citizenship Required?
Yes
Will security clearance be required?
No
Salary Range
$136,350.96 - $171,702.98 Annually
Other Benefits
The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally. As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include: - Retirement: California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% or 2.7% (depending on hire date) @55 for "Classic" members and 2% @62 for new members as defined by PEPRA, subject to the compensation limitations set by PERS. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security. - Health and Dental Insurance: The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected. - Life Insurance: City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000. - Disability Insurance: City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance. - Management Physical: Annual City-paid physical examination. - Vacation: Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service. - Executive Leave: Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year. - Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits. - Holidays: Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion. - Transportation Allowance: Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below; Department Head $650.00 Deputy Director/Manager/Director (Harbor/Utilities) $550.00 Division Officer/Superintendent/ Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA $450.00 Assistant to Executive / Executive Assistant / Executive Secretary/ Executive Support Staff $300.00 - Deferred Compensation Plan: Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation). Classic CalPERS Members: The City will contribute a maximum of up to two percent (2%) of base salary* for all qualified Classic CalPERS members. Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) CalPERS Members: Effective the second full pay period following City Council adoption, the City contribution will increase from two percent (2%) to three percent (3%) of base salary* for all qualified PEPRA CalPERS members. - Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses. - Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: Available (subject to City Manager approval). - Paid Parental Leave: The City provides one hundred and sixty (160) hours of Paid Parental Leave at 100% of salary, for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child, regardless of the gender, marital status or sexual orientation of the parent.Job Start Date
02/06/2025
Position Type
Permanent Full-Time
Travel
None
Primary Language Required
English
Job Location
Location Address
411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, California
90802
Contact Information
Hiring Contact Name
Kassandra Soto
Website
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/longbeach/jobs/4813198/environmental-cultural-resources-officer-advance-planning-officer?keywords=environmental%20services&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs